The fourth game gives West Indies the chance to wrap up the series after their resounding 141-run win on Wednesday, which represented a palpable shift in momentum between the two sides. Importantly for the home side, the win was built upon a solid team effort, lead by Shivnarine Chanderpaul's patient fifty and Darren Sammy's superb use of the conditions, as Zimbabwe unravelled completely after a promising start to their chase.

Zimbabwe's capitulation was all too familiar. They have found themselves similarly poised in previous series, against West Indies in the home series in 2007-08 and twice against Bangladesh last year, having won the first game but then lacking the determination and experience to build on successes with any consistency.

Hamilton Masakadza seems to be the only member of the top order to have come to terms with an unfamiliar bowling attack, but the regular fall of wickets at the other end has forced him to play too tentatively, as was evidenced by the limp, uncertain shot that lead to his dismissal in the third game.

Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya's decision to field first after he won the toss for the third match in a row raised eyebrows among team mates and locals alike, especially as the touring side had gone in to the match with only one specialist seamer - Elton Chigumbura - and five spinners. Zimbabwe had punched above their weight so far on this tour, but a lack of depth, particularly in their batting, means that they struggle to cope with pressure when conditions do not suit them.

West Indies, on the other hand, are beginning to play with a renewed sense of responsibility and purpose after the debacle of their Australian tour. Glimpses of the unity and strength sought by new coach Ottis Gibson are being seen, and the performances of the fringe players, in the absence of Ramnaresh Sarwan, Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor, will be heartening for them.

Although both Gibson and captain Chris Gayle have repeatedly urged against taking the opposition lightly, West Indies will go into the fourth match confident in the thought that they are one positive performance away from sealing a morale-boosting series victory. It will take a monumental effort for Zimbabwe to bounce back from their trouncing, and the extent to which they are able to do so will be a good indication of how far the team has progressed.

Form guide (last five completed matches)

West Indies WWLLLZimbabwe LLWLL

Watch out for...

The second game at Providence aside, Hamilton Masakadza has made promising starts in every international match of this tour, without being able to push on for a big score. If Zimbabwe are to stage a fightback their brittle batting line-up will rely heavily on his ability to dominate the oppostion's bowlers early on, but he will also need more support from an underperforming middle order if he is to build a matchwinning innings.

Kemar Roach has looked threatening all series, even when the slow, low conditions in the first two games did not suit him, and has snatched seven wickets at an average of just 14.14. Zimbabwe's batsmen have struggled against his pace, and if they find themselves under pressure in the fourth game, he could easily tear through the visitors' batting order to hasten their slide. Though it was Sammy who utilised the conditions most effectively on Wednesday, if the wicket for the fourth game retains its grassy covering Roach will be a daunting prospect.

Team news

West Indies seem to be gelling as a unit, and they will be unwilling to tamper much with a winning combination. Ravi Rampaul was the only underperformer in the last game, as Masakadza took the attack to him in the opening overs, and he could make way for Sulieman Benn.

The pitch did not quite suit Zimbabwe's decision to play five spinners in the previous game, and with Chris Mpofu by far the more experienced of the two seamers in reserve, he should get a look in. Stuart Matsikenyeri has had a wretched tour so far, with just 41 runs from five innings, and he could make way for Charles Coventry in the middle order as Zimbabwe push for a series-levelling win.

The pitch at the Arnos Vale Multiplex normally plays slow and low, and while this was the case in the first game, the grass left on the wicket meant there was some assistance for the seam bowlers, with the ball holding up and moving after pitching. There was some turn too, but Zimbabwe's spinners were not as effective as it was thought they would be. While the weather should be fine, there is a slight chance of rain on Friday.

Stats and Trivia

Zimbabwe's spinners have bowled 124.5 overs so far in the one-day series, taking 13 wickets for 535 runs. Their seamers have been used for just 23 overs, and 16 of these were bowled by Elton Chigumbura.

Since he came back into the team during the tour of Australia, Darren Sammy has averaged 63.00 with the bat (albeit helped by three not-outs) and taken nine wickets at 20.44 in ODIs. Including the opening Twenty20, he has taken nine Zimbabwean wickets at 7.66 on their tour of the Caribbean.

Quotes

"We still believe in ourselves and each other - that doesn't change after one game - and we know we can hit back in the fourth game on Friday."Zimbabwe's captain, Prosper Utseya, insists his side have the strength and belief to bounce back from their heavy defeat

"I have to keep improving so that I can be a permanent fixture in the eleven and in the West Indies squad."If Darren Sammy improves any further on his performance in the third ODI, where he took 4 for 26, Zimbabwe will struggle to reach 100

Excellent effort by the Windies batting first yesterday. Good to see a bit off competition for spots on the Team. This a good sign for the West Indies. We can't afford to take our eye off the ball yet as Zimbabwe will surely come good on Friday to prevent us from clinching the series. Victory in this series should be a stepping stone for the T20 World cup and the series with South Africa. WI must start playing competitively again against highly ranked opposition and in our turf win games. It should be an embarrassment to be beaten on ones turf. It was disappointing to see WI get beaten twice. No offense to Zimbabwe, they have played good quality matches, we have them to thank for Gayle rebuking remarks for the games we lost and the players responding to him and playing competitive cricket in the subsequent matches. Zimbabwe weakness is their batting but they frustrated West Indies with the ball on Wed. WI it seems are finding a good run of form. I hope for consistency though. Go WI

Rheza
on March 12, 2010, 10:56 GMT

Congrats to the WI.It's good to win but to havea team at 88 for 8, they should not have made over 100 runs.That's the difference with WI of now and WI of the 70's and 80's. Thats' what seperates them from Australia and top teams also.So if Gayle is a good captain as they say and he gels the team, then next time when a position like this arises he should ask to limit the opposition to less than 100 runs since he has sucha big influence. It would not only make a victory sweeter but will also demoralize the opposition.This would be especially helpful if it's in the middle of a series or at the beginning.

diggyb
on March 12, 2010, 6:34 GMT

ok, Mr Roach you have had Bangladesh, Australia , and now Zimbabwe to 'warm-up', i would like to see you be a little bit more aggressive from now on, attack the stump more, take it to the next level YOUNG STAR!! the standard of the 'next-generation' West Indies team Begins with you ( Roach), Barath, Darren Bravo. Keep working hard Guys, rally round the West Indies!

rsgarcia
on March 11, 2010, 19:20 GMT

No disrespect to Zimbabwe, but you had it easy until now. We've been playing understrength since England last May. Now you'll have to deal with the Bravos and company. It won't be that easy. In fact, barring some superhuman effort from the Africans, this series--as a competition--ended on Wednesday.

on March 11, 2010, 18:01 GMT

Tomorrow Zimbabwe is gonna level the series 2-2 with Worst Indies.
"We still believe in ourselves and each other - that doesn't change after one game - and we know we can hit back in the fourth game on Friday."
Zimbabwe's captain, Prosper Utseya, insists his side have the strength and belief to bounce back from their heavy defeat

Sachit1979
on March 11, 2010, 17:07 GMT

Zimbabwe really needs to sweat a lot to develop their fast bowling attack if they have dream about return to test arena. Bowling coach Heath Streak has got this big job in hand. Return of Andy Blignaut and Sean Ervine could bolster their attack but still they need 1 or 2 more strike bowlers who could hit the deck hard. Yougsters like Kyle Jarvis, Ed Rainsford or Tawanda Mupariwa could be groomed up for the job as they all have pace but they need to learn consistency.

Rockster007
on March 12, 2010, 13:13 GMT

Excellent effort by the Windies batting first yesterday. Good to see a bit off competition for spots on the Team. This a good sign for the West Indies. We can't afford to take our eye off the ball yet as Zimbabwe will surely come good on Friday to prevent us from clinching the series. Victory in this series should be a stepping stone for the T20 World cup and the series with South Africa. WI must start playing competitively again against highly ranked opposition and in our turf win games. It should be an embarrassment to be beaten on ones turf. It was disappointing to see WI get beaten twice. No offense to Zimbabwe, they have played good quality matches, we have them to thank for Gayle rebuking remarks for the games we lost and the players responding to him and playing competitive cricket in the subsequent matches. Zimbabwe weakness is their batting but they frustrated West Indies with the ball on Wed. WI it seems are finding a good run of form. I hope for consistency though. Go WI

Rheza
on March 12, 2010, 10:56 GMT

Congrats to the WI.It's good to win but to havea team at 88 for 8, they should not have made over 100 runs.That's the difference with WI of now and WI of the 70's and 80's. Thats' what seperates them from Australia and top teams also.So if Gayle is a good captain as they say and he gels the team, then next time when a position like this arises he should ask to limit the opposition to less than 100 runs since he has sucha big influence. It would not only make a victory sweeter but will also demoralize the opposition.This would be especially helpful if it's in the middle of a series or at the beginning.

diggyb
on March 12, 2010, 6:34 GMT

ok, Mr Roach you have had Bangladesh, Australia , and now Zimbabwe to 'warm-up', i would like to see you be a little bit more aggressive from now on, attack the stump more, take it to the next level YOUNG STAR!! the standard of the 'next-generation' West Indies team Begins with you ( Roach), Barath, Darren Bravo. Keep working hard Guys, rally round the West Indies!

rsgarcia
on March 11, 2010, 19:20 GMT

No disrespect to Zimbabwe, but you had it easy until now. We've been playing understrength since England last May. Now you'll have to deal with the Bravos and company. It won't be that easy. In fact, barring some superhuman effort from the Africans, this series--as a competition--ended on Wednesday.

on March 11, 2010, 18:01 GMT

Tomorrow Zimbabwe is gonna level the series 2-2 with Worst Indies.
"We still believe in ourselves and each other - that doesn't change after one game - and we know we can hit back in the fourth game on Friday."
Zimbabwe's captain, Prosper Utseya, insists his side have the strength and belief to bounce back from their heavy defeat

Sachit1979
on March 11, 2010, 17:07 GMT

Zimbabwe really needs to sweat a lot to develop their fast bowling attack if they have dream about return to test arena. Bowling coach Heath Streak has got this big job in hand. Return of Andy Blignaut and Sean Ervine could bolster their attack but still they need 1 or 2 more strike bowlers who could hit the deck hard. Yougsters like Kyle Jarvis, Ed Rainsford or Tawanda Mupariwa could be groomed up for the job as they all have pace but they need to learn consistency.

No featured comments at the moment.

Sachit1979
on March 11, 2010, 17:07 GMT

Zimbabwe really needs to sweat a lot to develop their fast bowling attack if they have dream about return to test arena. Bowling coach Heath Streak has got this big job in hand. Return of Andy Blignaut and Sean Ervine could bolster their attack but still they need 1 or 2 more strike bowlers who could hit the deck hard. Yougsters like Kyle Jarvis, Ed Rainsford or Tawanda Mupariwa could be groomed up for the job as they all have pace but they need to learn consistency.

on March 11, 2010, 18:01 GMT

Tomorrow Zimbabwe is gonna level the series 2-2 with Worst Indies.
"We still believe in ourselves and each other - that doesn't change after one game - and we know we can hit back in the fourth game on Friday."
Zimbabwe's captain, Prosper Utseya, insists his side have the strength and belief to bounce back from their heavy defeat

rsgarcia
on March 11, 2010, 19:20 GMT

No disrespect to Zimbabwe, but you had it easy until now. We've been playing understrength since England last May. Now you'll have to deal with the Bravos and company. It won't be that easy. In fact, barring some superhuman effort from the Africans, this series--as a competition--ended on Wednesday.

diggyb
on March 12, 2010, 6:34 GMT

ok, Mr Roach you have had Bangladesh, Australia , and now Zimbabwe to 'warm-up', i would like to see you be a little bit more aggressive from now on, attack the stump more, take it to the next level YOUNG STAR!! the standard of the 'next-generation' West Indies team Begins with you ( Roach), Barath, Darren Bravo. Keep working hard Guys, rally round the West Indies!

Rheza
on March 12, 2010, 10:56 GMT

Congrats to the WI.It's good to win but to havea team at 88 for 8, they should not have made over 100 runs.That's the difference with WI of now and WI of the 70's and 80's. Thats' what seperates them from Australia and top teams also.So if Gayle is a good captain as they say and he gels the team, then next time when a position like this arises he should ask to limit the opposition to less than 100 runs since he has sucha big influence. It would not only make a victory sweeter but will also demoralize the opposition.This would be especially helpful if it's in the middle of a series or at the beginning.

Rockster007
on March 12, 2010, 13:13 GMT

Excellent effort by the Windies batting first yesterday. Good to see a bit off competition for spots on the Team. This a good sign for the West Indies. We can't afford to take our eye off the ball yet as Zimbabwe will surely come good on Friday to prevent us from clinching the series. Victory in this series should be a stepping stone for the T20 World cup and the series with South Africa. WI must start playing competitively again against highly ranked opposition and in our turf win games. It should be an embarrassment to be beaten on ones turf. It was disappointing to see WI get beaten twice. No offense to Zimbabwe, they have played good quality matches, we have them to thank for Gayle rebuking remarks for the games we lost and the players responding to him and playing competitive cricket in the subsequent matches. Zimbabwe weakness is their batting but they frustrated West Indies with the ball on Wed. WI it seems are finding a good run of form. I hope for consistency though. Go WI